Busy Bag Idea: “Pom Pom Stuff It In”

Another fun Busy Bag we received in our Busy Bag Swap box was a “Pom Pom Stuff It In” activity, as Brenda called it. I’m quite sure what to call it, but let’s just say that Silas loved this activity.

It’s basically a small plastic tub of some sort (you could use a yogurt or sour cream container) with a hole cut in it to push pom poms through (you can find pom poms really inexpensively at the dollar store or at Hobby Lobby).

Silas had so much fun stuffing these in. When he was done, he dumped them all out and started over again. And he’s done it again and again like that!

This simple activity kept him happily occupied for quite a long while during our homeschooling time this past week and he hasn’t seemed to lose any interest or excitement about it yet!

I have an 18 month old that would LOVE this idea, under supervision so he doesn’t consume the pom pom’s! It would even be great if you used cloth wipes, or other formable objects that are manipulative enough to pull out of the little hole. Did you cut the hole with an X-acto knife?

Just want to say thank you for the busy bag ideas and pinning them in the pull down bar at the top for easy access!! I have been looking for these types of ideas all summer so it is nice to have more ideas and ones geared toward smaller children. It keeps my 2 year old occupied and included while I instruct my 2nd grader and kindergartner. Big thanks!!!!!

I have also found pom poms and other craft materials at the Dollar Tree for much cheaper than the Hobby Lobby next door. I made some busy bags last week, and I bought beads, pom poms, clothes pins, and measuring cups and spoons there, along with the plastic bags for storing. I LOVE these busy bag posts. My kids love all of the activities, too.

These are great ideas! When my older children were younger I had a “fun box” that they could pick from when I needed them to be occupied for a while. When my youngest was 6 I gave away all my preschool stuff, only to find out I was pregnant 2 months later! So now the baby is 2 and I’m putting together a fun box for her. This will definately go in there. I just posted a list of other things to put in the box, one was a pom pom sort, using different colored pom poms, big tweezers and an empty egg carton.

Hi all. I love pom pom crafts. I used them with my now 9 year old and plan on using them with my little one as well. Started to make her homeschool curriculum(way early)…started posting on my new blog. Hope you’ll check it out.

I am really loving the pictures of Silas, he is so cute. My baby boy is off to the dorm tomorrow and we will get him settled in. I miss him so much and he is not even gone yet. Anyway just the cutest pictures of your little guy. Enjoy them because I am 41 and have SERIOUS empty nest syndrome here:( Oh wait …..I do have a 16 year old girl to keep me “busy” LOL! Where does the time go?

For older kids who are learning their colors, you could also make multiple containers and cover the lid with colored paper (or use the plastic paint cups with the colored lids) and then have them sort the pom poms by color. Maybe do four cups with primary colors to start. This ups the challenge for the 2-4 year old age group.

Old nut tins (the kind that have peanuts or mixed nuts with the really flexible lids) work really well for “put ins” (as we call them in the autism classroom I work in.) Also, pringles containers work well for plastic ware sorting or sorting of different color straws. We use them to allow the students to work independently. Some of the kids will just put the item into the container. Other’s will sort items according to different characteristics.

Oh, another good idea! Made the button snake this morning and my 2 1/2 year old LOVED playing with it today (still going to cut out more felt squares as soon as I get more colors). Can’t wait to make this one also!

Just want to say how much I’m enjoying you posting Busy Bag ideas! Please keep them coming!

What clever thinking!!
I would think that to avoid the possibility of cutting precious fingers, take a lighter or the flame from a candle and just soften up the edge and pinch it together. Where I work we make plastic playground equipment and we “flame” edges to prevent them from being sharp.

I created this same thing for our 19 month old this week!! He’s been LOVING it (as have his big brothers ages 6 and 4!!). For part of our homeschool time, my “big boys” have time alone with our 19 month old. This activity was what both of them chose to do with him on Monday. It kept ALL of them busy for a while! We used an empty water bottle and an empty spice bottle for “stuffing.”

I recently made this pom pom game for my 20 month old daughter. She squeals with delight when I pour the pom poms out onto her head. She likes it more than actually stuffing the pom poms back in. Thanks to you and Brenda for the busy bag ideas I’ve made several for my daughter with more in the works.

You inspired me to put this activity together for my son who is Silas’ age (was 2 in May), and who needs some fun activities to do while I homeschool our bigger kids…I had a flash of inspiration (or maybe I was too lazy/busy to cut holes in anything), and realized that an empty Parmesan cheese container is PERFECT! The little holes are just right for the small pom-poms we have! Thanks for the inspiration!